Staying Cool with Food

posted Jul 14, 2017, 11:20 AM by Tracy Ducker, MS, RDN

Can certain foods really cool you down?
Surprisingly, yes, some can. You may think that it is obvious, hot foods make
you warmer and cool foods make you cooler, but it isn’t that simple. Our bodies
are constantly working to keep our core body temperature at 98.6 degrees F. If
the air outside is hot then we sweat to cool down, if the air is cold then we
shiver to increase body temperature. But some studies have shown that food and
drink can actually play a role in maintaining body temperature. For example, in
some parts of the world (i.e. warm climates) they believe that drinking hot
beverages or eating spicy food actually makes you cooler. In India and
sub-Sahara Africa they drink hot tea to cool off, and in Mexico they eat spicy
food to cool down.

So what is the science behind hot
foods and beverages and staying cool? When you drink a hot beverage or eat a
spicy food you sweat which cools you off, if it can evaporate. This means drinking a hot beverage in July in
Washington D.C. probably won’t cool you off. But drinking that hot tea in
Phoenix, Arizona will actually make you feel cooler because the sweat evaporates
in the dry climate, making you feel cooler.

So what can we Mid-Atlantic folks
do to stay cool? Try some of these foods
that have a high water content. Cucumbers,
dark green leafy vegetables and watermelon are not only refreshing but high in
vitamins and minerals. Plain, cool water
is also great for hydrating your body and staying cool, infuse with some berries or
lemon for flavor and added cooling. It is best to avoid ice cold drinks because
studies have shown that they can actually make you feel hotter because it cools
your core temperature too quickly causing your body to produce more heat in
order to maintain a body temperature of 98.6 degrees F. For more information on cooling foods click here.